A clear vote of confidence on Election Day will fund The Ranch events complex until 2040 via sales tax collections that will probably top out around $200 million.

But with supporters of the sales tax extension still basking in the afterglow of a 17-point victory, the path forward for The Ranch is not so concrete.

Larimer County officials adopted a 350-page master plan outlining the potential future for The Ranch weeks before the election. It describes a multitude of possibilities for the facility, from an indoor swim and ice arena and shooting range to the more mundane — though, supporters say still vital — possibilities: better meeting space and expo venues for events.

"The sales tax passing means we can pursue a lot of these improvements, which is very exciting," Larimer County Public Works Director Todd Blomstrom said. It also means expectations that site improvements come soon and that the money be spent wisely.

"There is an expectation that we make good business decisions with this," he said.

Blomstrom described a new balancing act facing decision-makers as they figure out how to invest the tax money — a use tax and a sales tax of 15 cents on $100 spent, which generated about $9 million last year — in ways that support its community service mission and the implicit promise of generating money for its own operations.

Blomstrom said work should begin relatively soon on the complex, but it might not be for the big-ticket items. Those, like the possible ice arena, would require a public-private partnership to pursue, adding another wrinkle.

Instead, managers will look to set the stage for expansion, including how to expand Arena Circle to give the complex a bigger footprint. They'll also look for low-hanging fruit to hit first, such as a better concession area to make transactions easier and quicker, and improvements to loading areas and green rooms to draw higher profile events and performers.

An artist's rendering shows what the Budweiser Events Center could look like after future improvements.(Photo: Larimer County)

"We don't want to slip backward," Blomstrom said. "Our goal with these improvements is to support (our) own operational costs."

That said, 4-H — one of the primary users of The Ranch and an organization frequently mentioned in the same breath with the facility — is excited about the opportunity provided by future extra space. Larimer County 4-H Extension Agent Megan Blaser said they currently face competition over space and more of it should broaden what 4-H'ers are able to experience, including the possibility of national expos. It will also open up opportunities for things like the master gardener program, she said.

"We're all really excited to see what's going to happen in the next few years and the opportunities it's going to present, not just for the 4-H program, but truly the whole
community," she said.

Outdoor and indoor livestock pavilions are pictured in this artist's rendering of potential improvements to The Ranch.(Photo: Larimer County)

Gil Barela, an organizer of the committee that supported the sales tax extension, said the eventual extra space will give 4-H participants more space to meet and learn, have their events, and sell and display their animals. He described the current choreography of moving animals in and out, with long days and longer events being the only ways to manage the demands on the facility now.

Knowing the effect it will have on future 4-H participants and community members had him choked up Friday afternoon, even if there will be lots of "drilling down" on specific projects in coming weeks.

"I can't thank citizens enough for giving The Ranch new life and added opportunity for the next 20 years," Barela said. "The passage of this ballot issue will affect a generation of children in Larimer County. Children that aren't even born yet will benefit from what Larimer County passed this last election."